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Scott Koenraadt

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The devolution of language.

Are any of you concerned about the devolution of our languages, the more prevalent example being the 'texting' slang that is currently going on.
ex.
r = are
l8 = late
u = you
y = why


I know I am concerned about this because it is very difficult for me to be able to read what a person is saying when they use things like that, and it also causes me to think worse of said person because it makes them 'sound' like a 12 year old.

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  • John Smith 30+

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    Sep 28 2012: English is a "devolution" of French and Germanic... (no literally, entire tenses and grammatical constructs such as the gender of nouns and the difference between tu/du and vous/sie have been abandoned by English for the sake of simplification and that's why English is so easy to learn, which is a good thing). Languages change, deal with it.
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    James Zhang 30+

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    Sep 25 2012: I wouldn't call it a devolution. In texting or Twiter or instant messaging, you don't have a whole lot of time/space to write longer messages, so naturally you'd find shortcuts to communicate same messages.

    I also believe that less is more. it is more effective to communicate the same message in less space/time.
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      Edwin Nazarian 10+

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      Sep 28 2012: "it is more effective to communicate the same message in less space/time." ... and well chosen and exact words
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    Salim Solaiman 50+

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    Sep 25 2012: Yes at the beginning and still today at times a get a bit perplexed with such evolution of language....but at the same time I feel:

    The main objective of language is to communicate........so it's fine if one can communicate with other rightly, whatever may be the signs, symbols or words being used.....

    All language evloved and will be evolving.....those couldn't died even....

    After receiving certain style of communication i the recipient feels uncomfortable with it then responsibility goes to the sender....
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    Edwin Nazarian 10+

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    Sep 25 2012: hi Scott

    That's a big problem nowadays. you are not alone who worries, I do too.
    yes sometimes I can't understand the texts I am receiving.

    the saddest part is that today's youth uses the texting lot more than adults and in many cases this way of writing affects their writings. many youngsters don't know how to spell a word correctly.

    in Spanish the "B" and the "V" sound similar, but surely some don't know how the word is written specially when these two latter are located somewhere in word. today for me to read those texts are as similar as for them to read Shakespeare.


    I help some students to improve their performance through using more adequate communication style and techniques.
    When I ask what they study some of them uses the term as Modern Languages. (What Modern?) This makes me to think that our languages have always been changed throughout the time. Who speaks like in the time of Shakespeare nowadays? and in X years who would write "are" if the "r" sound exactly the same"? So The Shakespearian English is outdated we need Modern English

    I think we are adopting our language with technology.

    PS: English is not my first language, neither Spanish, but I love learning languages, so far I can speak 4 to 5 languages this makes me an expert in learning languages.
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